Politics

A radical overhaul of Australia's working holiday visa system has sparked concerns that the federal government's policy priorities are skewed towards city-dwellers at the expense of regional areas. Experts warn that the changes could have far-reaching consequences for Labor's electoral prospects, particularly in vulnerable regional seats.

The Queensland government has rejected a petition to swap all stop signs with give-way signs in the state, arguing that the safety benefits of stop signs outweigh any operational impacts. The petition, signed by 391 Queenslanders, claimed that stop signs provide "no safety significance" and cost drivers more in fuel.

A Queensland man's appeal to overturn his terror charges has been dismissed. Omar Saghir was found guilty of six counts of intentionally advocating terrorism for posting videos calling on viewers to "attack" enemies of Islam.

A group of school students from western Queensland are making their mark on the state's decision-making process as members of the Queensland Youth Parliament. The young politicians, aged between 6th grade and 11th grade, are serving their region 10 hours west of Brisbane.

Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki has called for a major overhaul of the GST system, warning that the current distribution threatens the fiscal stability of the federation. Mr Janetzki's push comes on the back of the Productivity Commission's interim report, which recommended scrapping the federal government's deal with Western Australia.

A consortium of BESIX Watpac and John Holland has been selected as the sole bidder to build Brisbane's 2032 Olympic stadium at Victoria Park. The stadium is expected to cost around $3.6 billion and will be completed in time for the 2032 Games.

Greens leader Larissa Waters has stepped down from the top job due to a chronic kidney condition. Senator Waters will take a leave of absence as she focuses on her health before returning to her upper house duties.

Queensland's opposition demands answers from the government after a report reveals a 59.6 per cent increase in the number of children known to child safety who have died. The report shows 91 children known to the child protection system died in the last financial year.

Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest person, has allegedly tried to recruit a sitting Liberal MP to join One Nation, raising questions about her influence on Australian politics. The move has sparked concerns about the potential for undue influence in the country's political landscape.

The Australian Defence Force is retiring its $1.1-billion fleet of attack helicopters, known as the Tigers, and replacing them with American Apaches. The Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters have been in service for over 20 years.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding claims her fellow councillors are trying to 'gag' her with a new media policy that allows all councillors to use communications staff to write and send media releases. The move has sparked controversy, with Mayor Harding accusing councillors of a factional power play.

Queensland ministers are unable to confirm if they have read the full assessment into the suitability of Rockhampton's Fitzroy River to host Olympic events. The technical assessment has not been released publicly, despite Premier David Crisafulli announcing that it had passed "with flying colours".

Queensland's peak social service body has accused the state government of making laws in an "echo chamber". The LNP administration's latest measure to curb crime, breach bail, go to jail, is being examined by a parliamentary committee.

A senate committee has recommended an independent review into a Defence report on the 2023 MRH-90 helicopter crash that killed four men, amid claims of corruption and fabricated evidence. The committee's probe found that the Defence Flight Safety Bureau report may have been compromised by a conflict of interest.

Queensland parliament has passed new laws introducing harsher penalties for drug and drink driving offences, with fines of up to $5,699 and licence disqualifications of at least three months. The reforms aim to increase road safety and reflect the seriousness of offending.

Queensland's state parliament has passed the Circuit Breaker Sentencing bill, which will see up to 60 juvenile offenders diverted from detention to remote youth justice camps. The camps, set to be rolled out later this year, have been criticised by experts for putting youth at risk of harm or abuse.

Queensland communities may face increased difficulty in challenging new mining projects under proposed law changes. The Mineral Resources Objections Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Bill aims to restrict who can object to a mine and grant politicians greater control over whether objections are heard in court.

The Queensland government has proposed new laws to increase penalties for domestic and family violence offenders who breach protection orders. The legislation aims to ease the workload of police and better protect victims.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has apologized for swearing during a press conference while maintaining his account of having dinner with US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. The mayor's recollection of the dinner has been disputed by the Trump Organization.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate swore at a journalist and stormed out of a press conference when questioned about his recent US visit and a claimed dinner with US President Donald Trump. Inconsistencies have emerged over whether the dinner actually took place, with the White House stating that the president and first lady "did not have dinner with that group".

Queensland's most notorious prisoners, including wife-killer Gerard Baden-Clay, face the prospect of spending the rest of their lives behind bars under proposed changes to parole laws. The legislation aims to expand the definition of a restricted prisoner to apply to anyone serving a life sentence.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate's dinner meeting with US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago has come under scrutiny, with conflicting accounts emerging about the dinner. The trip, which included multiple meetings with infrastructure officials in Dubai and a visit to Milan, has raised questions about its openness.

Proposed changes to Queensland's bail laws have sparked intense criticism from experts, who warn that the reforms will lead to more children being held in inhumane conditions and increased pressure on jails and courts. The overhaul aims to crack down on youth crime, but experts argue it will have the opposite effect.

Queensland's credit rating has been downgraded for the first time in almost 20 years, putting pressure on the state's multi-billion-dollar debt and Olympic infrastructure. The downgrade to AA from AA+ by S&P Global Ratings has sparked a heated debate between the state and federal governments.

Queensland is facing a potential credit rating downgrade, which would increase the state's debt and interest costs. The development has sparked a blame game between Canberra and the LNP state government.

Queensland's Premier has reaffirmed the state's commitment to hosting Olympic rowing and canoeing events in Rockhampton for the 2032 Games, despite concerns over accommodation capacity and the suitability of the Fitzroy River. The Premier labelled critics 'naysayers' and said concerns had already been 'debunked easily'.

A Victorian company director has been arrested and is being questioned by police over allegations a labour hire contractor bribed current Queensland union officials. Police raided the CFMEU Queensland headquarters and several properties in Queensland and Victoria.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has hit out at "overseas elites" who have questioned the suitability of Rockhampton as a venue for the 2032 Olympic Games. The state government has selected the Fitzroy River for rowing and canoe sprint events, which requires final sign-off from the sport's governing body.

The Queensland Teachers' Union is pushing for legislative changes that would reclassify teachers as public officers and double maximum assault penalties. The move follows a dramatic rise in reported classroom incidents and severe burnout among school staff.

A Sydney-based Chinese national has been refused bail in Cairns after being accused of smuggling ten Chinese citizens into Far North Queensland. Magistrate Michael Dalton dismissed the man's claims of a fishing trip, citing the discovery of the migrants in his booked hotel room.

The Together Union has accused the Queensland government of trying to scrap a reporting tool that measures child safety officer workloads. While Premier David Crisafulli believes the tool should stay, opposition and union leaders claim the move is an attempt to mask a systemic crisis.

With the Queensland state election fast approaching, we are launching an exclusive community project to find out what issues matter most to everyday voters. Share your story with us and help put the community's voice at the center of our political coverage.

While governing a nation is a serious business, Australian federal politics has delivered some wonderfully absurd unscripted moments over the last two decades. We look back at six times our nation's leaders swapped diplomacy for pure comedy.

Advocate groups and legal experts have raised urgent concerns over Queensland's proposed youth boot camps, warning a legal loophole could allow child abuse to go unreported. The "Circuit Breaker" program has drawn fierce criticism for shielding operators from self-incrimination while isolating vulnerable children.

The Queensland Audit Office has criticized Townsville City Council for establishing a development company without treasurer approval and failing to maintain proper financial oversight.

The Queensland government is considering a police union proposal to collect DNA from youth suspects without requiring a court order. While police argue the tool is necessary for investigations, human rights advocates warn it strips young people of fundamental legal protections.

A coalition of activists has launched a landmark High Court challenge against Queensland's controversial hate speech laws, which criminalize phrases like "from the river to the sea" and "globalise the intifada." The legal battle hinges on claims that the legislation infringes upon the implied freedom of political communication.

Proposed changes to Queensland's drug driving laws are drawing criticism for potentially penalizing legal medicinal cannabis users. Advocacy groups and legal experts are urging the government to refine legislation to differentiate between impairment and responsible medication use.

Queensland's arts minister is facing intense scrutiny over a wave of recent appointments to the state's leading cultural institutions. Critics allege a pattern of political favouritism, raising questions about transparency and merit in the selection process.

Brisbane's exclusive airport train service is under intense scrutiny following claims its foreign owners have paid no income tax in Australia for nearly a decade. A prominent local MP is now advocating for the state government to nationalize AirTrain, proposing a buyout to slash fares and expand public transport access.